Can the Utah Jazz Make The NBA Playoffs This Season

The Utah Jazz hasn’t made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. Last year the Jazz were close, missing out on the final playoff spot by just one game. This year, however, the Jazz finally have a chance to break that streak – they are off to a great start to the 2016-17 campaign. So, can the Jazz make the playoffs this year? Let’s examine their chances this year? Let’s discuss their chances.

What the stats are saying?

2016 NBA Playoffs Six Teams To Watch

With one more month until the 2016 NBA playoffs start, the race in both the East and West is as close as ever. The 8th and the 9th seed in the East are separated by half a game, with the 6th seed also only two games in front of the 9th seed. In the West, the difference between the 8th and 9th seed is only two games, making the stretch run extremely interesting. Here are six teams that should become more and more interesting as the 2016 NBA playoffs approach.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons went all in at the trade deadline, getting Tobias Harris from Orlando Magic to form a “mini Big-Three” with Drummond, Reggie Jackson and Harris. And while some people expected quick results, in reality, Detroit is playing 50% basketball since the trade. But that might be a good thing. The good news for the Pistons is they have only seven more games on the road. But the bad news is they have lots of games against direct competition, starting with two games against the Wizards, a game against Chicago, two against the Hornets, and then some against higher tier Eastern teams: 2 against Atlanta, two against Miami, and one against Cleveland. The Wizards game are crucial since Washington leads the season series 2:0, and one more win will ensure the Wizards the tiebreaker. Detroit Pistons tickets for the 2016 NBA playoffs games start at just $35.00 per ticket.

Washington Wizards

Speaking of the Wizards, they are 2 and a half games outside of the playoff picture, but they can make up ground by beating the Pistons. Detroit is not in the playoffs, but they are just half a game behind Chicago for the 8th spot. The biggest challenge for the Wizards will be the Atlanta Hawks, as they have three more games against the 5th best team in the East at the moment. The good news, however, is they have several games against bottom feeders left: 2 against the Nets, one versus Phoenix, one versus Lakers, one versus Knicks, and one versus Sixers. Get Washington Wizards tickets for their 2016 NBA playoff games today.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls got Jimmy Butler back, but it might be too late. Sitting at the 8th spot, with just half a game lead is not something that Chicago envisioned at any point during the season. The Bulls were supposed to fight with Cleveland for East supremacy, but that hasn’t happened yet. And it doesn’t get easier down the road with only eight home games left. Opponent-wise, the Bulls have one more game against the Cavs, one against the Raptors, two versus the Heat, one with the Pistons, one with Indiana, one with San Antonio and one with Washington. The silver lining is that the Bulls will decide their fate, with games against direct opponents like Washington, Indiana, and Detroit. Chicago Bulls schedule for their 2016 NBA Playoffs games at the United Center start at just $85.00 per ticket.

Portland Trail Blazers

Let’s start with the good news. The Blazers are currently at the 6th spot in the West, despite losing every player of their starting lineup from last season not named Damian Lillard. They have no chance of getting the 5th spot, but staying at 6 is a very plausible scenario. Now, for the bad news. Take a look at their schedule: 2 more versus Golden State, two more versus OKC, one versus San Antonio, one versus Clippers. That is six games against the top 4 teams in the West. And to top it that, they have two more games against Dallas, a team that is just half a game behind them in the standings. The Blazers will likely make the playoffs, but staying at 6th spot gives them a chance against an OKC team that doesn’t look as scary as the Warriors and Spurs. Portland Trail Blazers tickets for the 2016 NBA Playoffs begin at just $25.00 per ticket.

The Lakers March Schedule 2015 will have seven games at Staples Center. LA will be on the road for nine games during the Lakers March Schedule of away games.

With the surgery of Kobe Bryant, it became official Lakers have lost the season. Now, the only thing left to do is to try and secure a top 5 draft pick. In another case, the pick goes to the Phoenix Suns, and the Lakers will lose a valuable asset in their rebuilding project. In March, they will play few games with direct rivals for a higher pick. The trick is that the Lakers must lose those games to stay in the play for the pick. At the moment, the Lakers have the 4th worst record in the league which guarantees them a top 5 pick. But they can get “lower” and grab a higher pick.

Knicks @ Lakers, Staples Center, March 12, Starting price $22, Average price $126
After rejecting the Lakers during the offseason, this will be the first time Carmelo will come to LA. The duels between the Knicks and the Lakers were once an epic matchup, but the two of the largest NBA cities have fallen. And with the Knicks in town, there will be millions of side stories about Phil Jackson, Melo, Derek Fisher and much more.

Lakers @ Warriors Oracle Arena March 16th
Starting price $84 | Average price $151
The score between the teams is 2-1. But the fun part is, the Lakers are probably the only team in the league that have scored 100+ points versus the No.1 defence in the league in every game they’ve played. Los Angeles has no problem scoring versus Golden State, but the problem is how to defend them. At least the fans can enjoy a high scoring game. View Tickets.

Jazz @ Lakers Staples Center March 19th.
Starting price $17 | Average price $59
This will be the last duel of the two teams. There was a time when LA had a better record than the Jazz. But they started losing, and the Jazz won few games. Now, the tables are turned. Neither team has a chance to make the playoffs, which means the duels will decide to rank in the draft. The Jazz won the first duel between the two teams in Utah.

Sixers @ Lakers Staples Center, March 22th.
Starting price $19 | Average price $71
The Lakers and Sixers have yet to play this season. But in March, they will play twice, once in Los Angeles and once in Philadelphia. The difference between the teams in the standings is two games, so these duels might decide who gets a higher pick.

Lakers @ Timberwolves Target Center March 25th.
Starting price $10 | Average price $60
With the return of Ricky Rubio to the lineup and the growth of Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves have begun to win games here and there. And with Lakers losing as they do, they might overcome the Timberwolves as the worst team in the Western Conference. That won’t be a bad thing, considering the lower the seeding, the higher the draft pick.

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The Utah Jazz February schedule of games is very tough. Almost 80% of their games are versus playoff teams. Most notably western powers such as the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. However, on the other hand, the experience playing versus them is precious, and the Jazz needs experience and a high draft pick. The team from Utah already has a plethora of young players, but another top 5 or top 7 picks won’t hurt. They also play the Lakers, a team they directly fight for a higher pick.

The Jazz February Schedule last season saw 12 games played. The Jazz ended February 2014 with a 5-7 record. The Jazz was 6-6 in their February schedule back in 2013. Ticket prices for the Utah Jazz also tend to dip in February. The 2014 Utah Jazz February schedule saw a -62% drop in ticket prices on the secondary market. With the Jazz currently 14-28 and almost out of the playoffs statistically there is no reason the same trend won’t happen in 2015.

5 top games in the Utah Jazz February schedule.

Jazz @ Trail Blazers, Moda Center, February 3, Starting price $17, Average price $51
The Jazz starts the month of February versus one of the top 3 teams in the West. To put it kindly, the start couldn’t be harder than this. The teams have never played so far this season, and this will be one of the two duels in February. The second is on 20th February, in Utah.

Kings @ Jazz, EnergySolutions Arena, February 7, Starting price $10, Average price $22
The Kings started the season strong, but they fall to earth once Demarcus Cousins suffered nasty meningitis. From there on, they fired their coach, and the team is now in no man’s land. They are away from a playoff spot, and they need to lose a series of games for a higher draft pick. They are doing the later excellent in the past few weeks, having lost 7 of their past 10 games. Even worse for Utah, they are “catching” the Jazz for a high draft pick.

Spurs @ Jazz, EnergySolutions Arena, February 23,Starting price $11, Average price $42
Fun fact, the Jazz won the first duel between the teams, and the game was also played in Utah. In San Antonio, the Jazz managed to score only 69 points and lost. If they win now, they have a chance to win the season series with the Spurs since long time ago. But that won’t be easy at all. But the most important silver lining from the game is the experience playing versus a true team.

Lakers @ Jazz, EnergySolutions Arena, February 25,Starting price $16, Average price $65
The Jazz won the first matchup, but it might be better for them to lose this one. Nobody wants to lose, and publically tank, but the Jazz are in a position that they cannot go much up in the standings. The duels with the Lakers are a meaningful factor in deciding who is ranked lower and who gets a higher pick. This especially applies for the Lakers, who would love to have their pick in the top 5, since they will keep it in that case.

Jazz @ Nuggets, Pepsi Center, February 27, Starting price $13, Average price $32
The two teams that play in the same conference were playoff rivals around 5-6 years ago. Back then, Carmelo was playing for the Nuggets, and Deron Williams was playing for the Jazz. But things have changed, and the two teams are now at the bottom of the Western Standings. However, a division game is always fun to see. The key thing to watch in this game is pace. Utah boasts the third slowest pace in the league, and Denver plays at the fourth fastest pace in the league.

All Utah Jazz February Schedule Ticket Prices are subject to change and based on the secondary ticketing market.

The Cavs are slowly starting to look like the championship contender many envisioned them to be when they signed LeBron James and traded for Kevin Love. There are still bumps on the road, and the roles are not clearly defined, but the team is playing better and better. It took the Heat one year to find out how they should play, and an injury to Chris Bosh to finally grasp and embrace the idea of position-less basketball and place the ball in James’ hands. The Cavs took less time, as Irving is slowly learning to play off the ball, and let LeBron create more for others. The biggest problem is their defence, but they are getting there. LeBron claimed they should win all 82 rebound battles during the season, but that hasn’t happened, even though the team has excellent rebounders in Anderson Varejao and Kevin Love. This is their home schedule for the Quicken Loans Arena January.

Cavs vs Mavs, January 4, Average price $72

One team that can fully explore Cavs weakness on the defensive end is the Mavericks. They have the best offence in the NBA by far, and with so many weapons, teams have a hard time holding the Mavs below 100 points per possession. Tyson Chandler owns the glass, and if the Cavs are not careful, he will punish them. Cavaliers vs Mavericks Tickets starting price is $66.00

Cavs vs Rockets, January 7, Average price $86

Another duel where the Cavs are poised to lose the rebound battle. Just a few days after hosting the Mavs and Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard and the Rockets are in town. And the Rockets are another team with many weapons, particularly on the perimeter, where they can shoot lights out. James might have to guard Harden, the leading scorer at the moment. Love is one player that can hurt the Rockets, as they do not have someone who can step out and is mobile enough to guard Love.

Cavs vs Bulls, January 19, Average price $189

The duel of two former MVP players is sure to produce some entertainment, and probably some bad blood. James is not liked in Chicago, and neither does he love the Bulls. Joakim Noah has tossed some words towards LeBron multiple times. While he was with the Heat, James was an obstacle the Bulls could not pass. Now with the Cavs, he might be even more dangerous. And we cannot forget Kyrie Irving and his duel with Derrick Rose.Cavs vs Jazz, January 21, Starting price $34, Average price $78

You better bet LeBron hasn’t forgotten the first duel between the teams and Gordon Hayward’s game-winning shot over James. The Jazz better is prepared for James’s revenge, as he is known to remember things. Even though he doesn’t show it, LeBron is a player with a long memory. And he knows how hard his duels with the Jazz are, and how much he hates losing in Utah. Now at home, he will probably show them good he is.

Cavs vs Hornets, January 23, Average price $189

The Hornets are looking to trade Lance Stephenson; the player LeBron loves to play against. The Cavs won the first duel of the season. The Hornets are still in a mess, but they do have one player that can punish Cleveland, and his name is Big Al Jefferson. No player on Cavs roster can guard Jefferson inside, and he was a problem for James as well. The point guard matchup between Kemba Walker and Kyrie Irving is another one to watch for.

Cavs vs Thunder, January 25, Average price $147

Is there a better matchup and a duel in the league than this one? The Thunder won the first game of the season, but that was with James in street clothes. Just think about, Ibaka vs Love, Irving vs Westbrook, and of course, James vs Durant. Three premium matchups at three different positions make this game a must watch.Cavs vs Blazers, January 28, Average price $90

In the first week of the season, the Blazers dominated the Cavs in their first matchup. But Cleveland is a much better team now, with chemistry improved and their team play improved as well. The teams have top 5 players on two crucial positions, point guard and power forward. However, how Batum defends LeBron might decide the duel. And we cannot forget Wesley Matthews, a player who thinks is the best at his position and can go hot on a given night.

Cavs vs Kings, January 30, Average price $193

The Kings might be a different team by the time this two meet. Fresh out of firing Mike Malone, the Kings are looking to play at a faster pace. Their biggest problem is Demarcus Cousins and his health, as the big man has missed a few games due to illness. When he is in the lineup, he is probably the most dominant post big man in the league, which could spell trouble for the Cavs. Cavaliers vs Kings Tickets starting price is $77.00

All Cleveland Cavaliers Tickets are 100% verified and guaranteed to be authentic as well as delivered on time. You can learn more about our Interactive Cavaliers Seating Chart and multiple ways to purchase tickets. You can also view the entire Cavaliers schedule for both home and away games.

‘Tis the Season of Dunks” for the Los Angeles Clippers! The Clippers ended November with an 11-5 record placing them three games back from their rivals the Golden State Warriors. LA plays 11 games at the Staples Center during December with the biggest one being the Clippers vs Warriors Christmas Day game which is also Argyle Santa Hat Giveaway! Don’t miss any of the action!

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Clippers vs Timberwolves, December 1, Starting price $6, Average price $45
The Timberwolves are a young team, and this will be the first time the first round pick Andrew Wiggins comes to town. He might not be ready for stardom, and is still a work in progress, but the kid shows flashes from time to time about how great he can be. The duel could be a lot more fun if Rubio wasn’t injured, but there is still enormous potential for an exciting game. Minnesota is a lottery team, but the guys play hard, they compete for 48 minutes, and provide a highlight or two. Clippers vs Timberwolves tickets are still available.

Clippers vs Magic, December 3, Starting Price $7, Average price $48
Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton are a young core that can do some serious damage in the next 2-3 years. For now, Vucevic is the only proven player from the group. The Serbian center can go for 20 and 20 at any given night, and the Clippers must contain him in order to win. Deandre Jordan will have his hands full, but he might serve a poster for Vucevic.You can purchase Clippers vs Magic tickets for the Staples Center.

Clippers vs Pelicans, December 6, Starting Price $18, Average price $50
Blake Griffin versus Anthony Davis! Can the casual fan ask for more? Probably not. Two of the best power forwards in the league go head to head in a matchup that should provide enough entertainment and highlights. Davis is arguably the MVP of the first month, and if he continues his strong play, and the Pelicans make the playoffs, there is no reason he should not win it. The Pelicans will visit the Clippers once more this season, but at the moment, both teams are at full strength and playing good basketball. Purchase Clippers vs Pelicans tickets.

Clippers vs Suns, December 8, Starting price $7, Average Price $73
Two seasons ago, Eric Bledsoe was backing up Chris Paul. Now he is running his show in Phoenix, where Coach Jeff Hornacek has the Suns playing hard and at a fast pace. Besides Bledsoe, the Suns have two more point guards that can cause damage in Dragic and Thomas. But none of them comes close to the level of CP3 and his playmaking and shot making abilities. And the Suns frontline is weak compared to the big guys the Clippers boast. The Clippers already beat the Suns on 15th November. Order Clippers vs Suns tickets today.

Clippers vs Pistons, December 15, Starting Price $10, Average Price $62
Few teams can match the frontline of the Clippers, and the Pistons are one of them. Their record doesn’t reflect their talent, but Andre Drummond is a beast, and Greg Monroe is one of the best copies of Tim Duncan and his sound and fundamental post game. The Pistons are still figuring things out, but they can be dangerous. And they are the Eastern Conference team leader in alley-oops with Drummond reaching for every ball that comes close to the basket.Order Clippers vs Pistons tickets today.

Clippers vs Pacers, December 17, Starting price $6, Average Price $80
Even without Paul George and Lance Stephenson, Indiana has managed to hang in the top 8 in the East. After a few games, the team is playing motivated and engaged. The Pacers already have some quality wins (versus Dallas, Miami and Chicago), and there is no reason to doubt they will bring their A game. Roy Hibbert and David West are a good inside duo, posing challenges for Griffin and Jordan. CP3 might have his way with the point guards of Indiana, but he will need help to carry the Clippers in this one. Order Clippers vs Pacers tickets today.

Clippers vs Bucks, December 20, Starting price $23, Average price $39
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a reason enough to tune into this game. The Greek Freak is playing excellent basketball at the moment. Coach Jason Kidd has his team playing inspiring basketball, and his players give their all. Few people had the Bucks at No.4 in the East going into December, but the Bucks are going back to their “Fear the Deer” campaign. They are a dangerous team, and rookie Jabari Parker is playing better by the day. Order Clippers vs Bucks tickets today.

Clippers vs Warriors, December 25, Starting Price $72, Average Price $104
These two teams have a long history in the past few years. Every matchup brings tension as a playoff game, and players from both teams have admitted they do not like each other. They’ve met in the 2014 playoffs, with the Clippers advancing. But this year, with Steve Kerr on the coaching seat, the Warriors are playing even more efficient basketball with more ball movement. The Splash Brothers are killing it, and Curry is a time bomb waiting to happen. The Warriors are second in the Western Conference, just a half game behind Memphis going into December. Not to mention, a Christmas matchup is always a special one. Order Clippers vs Warriors tickets for their Christmas Day game at Staples Center today.

Clippers vs Raptors, December 27, Starting Price $37, Average Price $75
The Raptors have been arguably the best team in the league over the first month. They lost to the Western leading Grizzlies to close out November, but they are still the best in the East. Nobody expected them to be this good, but they are proving experts wrong. Fresh off an extension, Kyle Lowry has matured into a great leader at the point guard position. While many see the highlights from Demar Derozan and Terrence Ross, Lowry is the machine that carries the Raptors. A matchup with CP3 is a great chance for Lowry to show his worth. Purchase Clippers vs Raptors Tickets today.

Clippers vs Jazz, December 29, Starting Price $27, Average Price $59
After wining some games to start the season, the Jazz are back where they belong, in the lottery. They should stay there for a season or two more, but they have solid young guys that can be dangerous. Gordon Hayward is one of them, and this season, the Clippers are having troubles with small forwards. Hayward has proven he is worth the money Utah put in him, and he might go off versus the Clippers. The team from Los Angeles won the first meeting between the teams. Purchase Clippers vs Jazz tickets today.

Clippers vs Knicks, December 31, Starting Price $40, Average Price $160
There are few things that are more entertaining on New Year’s Eve than a matchup between the Clippers and the Knicks. Fate didn’t let Carmelo and CP3 to play together, so they must compete against each other. The Knicks are still adjusting to the triangle, and Melo is having back issues, but he should be healthy for the game. Clippers vs Knicks tickets are available for all sections of the Staples Center.

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Each year as the start of the new NBA season approaches will always look to the draft to see which players will be successful and which ones are lucky to be drafted. There is still a draft pick or rookie that will make an instant impact each year and will make his statement for the rookie of the year. This year is no different. There are a few rookies that have been drafted that stands out above the other rookies. You can look for the following names to be mentioned when it comes to rookie expectations.

Jabari Parker was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and is currently playing forward. In his October 9 outing against the Detroit Pistons he put up 11 points and added three rebounds with one assist and one still. That was with 31 minutes of playing time. He has been used at both forward positions but still a question as to where he will be positioned during the regular season. No matter where Coach Jason Kidd will place him in the lineup look for Jabari to be a huge contributor and make a nice run for the rookie of the year.

Nerlens Noel is having a somewhat rough start to the season. Being drafted by the Philadelphia 76’ers to play forward and center he does have the potential to be a strong defensive presence in the NBA. After playing in the first two preseason game for the 76’ers, he is listed as day to day while he is nursing an injured right thigh. Look for Noel to be healthy for the regular season and to improve the more he plays.

Andrew Wiggins showed why he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves when he scored 11 points by shooting 5 for 10 from the field against the 76’ers on Friday night. He also added three rebounds. Three of his eleven points came from one three-pointer. Playing at guard and forward he will go through some slumps as does everyone else but look for him to put together a streak of consistency playing an average of thirty minutes per game.

Dante Exum, a rookie guard for the Utah Jazz played twenty-nine minutes in his October 8 outing off the Jazz bench. He was a little rusty only hitting one of his five shots. This won’t last long because he will have to improve to gain some sharing time with starting point guard Trey Burke. He will have to develop his ball skills to make his run at rookie of the year. Exum is one to keep an eye on throughout the year.

Julius Randle a rookie forward for the L.A. Lakers will have to make some adjustments if his last outing on Friday night is any indication of what is to come from this rookie. He only played eighteen minutes and shot a low 4 out of 12 from the field. The Lakers will move the ball around a lot, and Randle needs to get used to the ball movement so he will learn his placement on the court. He will need more playing time to develop his confidence. But he will get better and make a strong push during his 2014-15 season year.

According to Google Trends Andrew Wiggins is getting the most interest by NBA Fans!

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The NBA Las Vegas Summer League, sponsored by Samsung, will kick off on July 11 with 67 games to be played over the 11 day event. All 67 games will be televised live by the NBA Network. The Los Angeles Lakers will participate in the event with their lineup likely featuring whoever they select with the 7th pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Aaron Gordon of Arizona, Indiana’s Noah Vonleh, Kentucky’s Julius Randle and Dante Exum of Australia are potential Lakers targets in the upcoming draft, one of the deepest drafts in years. Other Lakers expected to take part in the summer league are center, Robert Sacre, forward Ryan Kelly and guard Kendall Marshall. The Lakers will kick off summer league play with a matchup versus the Toronto Raptors on July 11th, followed by games with the New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors.

LAKERS

Last season the Raptors featured Jonas Valanciunas, the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League MVP. The Raptors big man’s performance in the summer league was a springboard to a successful 2013-2014 season that included a playoff appearance for the Raptors. The Lakers summer league roster will be announced closer to the event, as will the head coach of the Lakers team. Last season Lakers assistant coach Dan D’Antoni coached the team but is no longer with the organization after taking the head coaching job with Marshall University. The Lakers have yet to announce a replacement for Mike D’Antoni, the younger brother of Dan, who was let go after the Lakers tough 2013-2014 season. Several names have been rumoured in the Lakers coaching decision, but the franchise has purportedly delayed deciding the end of the NBA season when they’ll have a better understanding of the future of Miami Heat star Lebron James. With available cap space, the Lakers can sign Lebron James, although most experts feel James heading to the Lakers is extremely unlikely.

Last season the Lakers finished 3-2 in the summer league with Marcus Landry leading the team in scoring. They’ll have a vastly different roster this summer with Robert Sacre likely the only returning player. Following the opening three games, the Lakers will then take part in a tournament to determine the winner. Last season the Golden State Warriors defeated the Phoenix Suns in the title game, 91-77 behind 33 points off the bench from Ian Clark who ended up on the Utah Jazz roster this past season. Tickets for the NBA Summer League are on sales now so if you’re looking for a great getaway with some sun, fun and to get your basketball fix then shoot out to Las Vegas to catch some up close basketball at great prices. Usually, you can walk up and get tickets at the door. Chris M.

Two weeks into the 2013-2014 NBA season the Western Conference is taking shape. The usual contenders, San Antonio and Oklahoma City are at the top, but with Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers struggling there’s an opportunity for some new contenders to make a playoff run. Here’s a look at the elite, contenders and pretenders of the early NBA season.

The veteran San Antonio Spurs picked up where they left off and are off to a fast start to begin the season. They’re well coached, experienced and deep and should contend for the top record in the NBA all season. If Tim Duncan and Tony Parker can stay healthy, the Spurs are the favourites for a return trip to the finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder welcomed back Russell Westbrook early, and their star point guard seems to be the same explosive player he was before his meniscus tear. The Thunder is 5-1 on the season with their lone loss versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. The presence of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook guarantees 55 to 60 wins—how that translates into the postseason is the big question. The Thunder still misses that extra scorer that James Harden once provided. The Los Angeles Clippers are still adjusting to the coaching style of Doc Rivers, but have a deep lineup and bench and an elite point guard in Chris Paul.

The Next in Line: (Minnesota, Memphis, Dallas, Houston)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are finally healthy and displaying the potential that many predicted when Ricky Rubio arrived in the United States. In Rubio, Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic the Wolves have one of the best trios in basketball and an elite Head Coach in Rick Adelman. The Wolves acquisition of Kevin Martin, who thrived under Adelman in Sacramento, has given the club the strong perimeter shooting two guards they missed. Look for the Wolves to challenge the 50 win mark and reach the playoffs for the first time under Love. Memphis switched Head Coaches, with Dave Joerger taking over for Lionel Hollins. They’ve struggled initially in the transition but still feature the same big and physical lineup that’s worked for them the past three seasons. Marc Gasol is one of the league’s best centers, and he forms perhaps the best center/power forward combination in basketball with Zach Randolph. The Dallas Mavericks, who missed the playoffs last season, have rebuilt to make another run. The newly minted backcourt of Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon is working so far, giving Dirk Nowitzki the guard play he hasn’t had since the Mavs title run. The key for Dallas, like San Antonio, is the health of their veteran players. Over in Houston the Rockets have the potential to be in the elite group but have struggled defensively so far this season. Dwight Howard is showing many of the same inconsistencies he displayed in Los Angeles last season, and he’s not yet providing the interior defensive presence the Rockets desperately need. Houston can score points on anybody; the big question is whether or not they can defend like an NBA title contender. Right now the jury is still out.

On the Upswing: (Portland)

The Blazers are off to a fast start (5-2), although only one victory is over a legit playoff contender (San Antonio). That being said the Blazers look to be a club that can occupy the playoff position(s) that the Lakers and Denver may be vacating. LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the premier power forwards in the game, while Damian Lillard and Nicolas Batum are consistently improving their game. The Blazers have been efficient, reducing turnovers, and are second in the conference in field goal attempts per game. Their +4.0 scoring margin is good for 5th in the conference.

Bubble Teams: (Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans)

Putting the Lakers in the bubble team category may be a stretch. Their success hinges on how close to .500 they are when Kobe Bryant returns. Los Angeles has improved their overall depth and the youth of their roster, but still lacks the quality depth of most NBA playoff contenders. It’s questionable whether or not Steve Nash has anything left in the tank as he battles persistent injuries. If Nash can’t provide the minutes, the Lakers need they may plummet down the standings. The Pelicans are an exciting club. They’ve had some good victories this season as well as some bad performances. They’ve injected some talent into their roster, but it’s still not clear how the backcourt trio of Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon, Jrue Holliday will co-exist due to their high ball usage rate. Inside though the Pelicans have the emerging Anthony Davis who’s quickly becoming the superstar many predicted. Davis alone could be the difference maker that vaults the Pelicans into playoff contention.

The Pretenders: (Sacramento, Denver)

The Sacramento Kings have a talented roster that once again looks like a bunch of spare parts. DeMarcus Cousins is one of the most skilled big men in the game, putting together a solid season. His checkered past though makes it hard to rely on him day in and day out. Ben McLemore has excellent potential, but he’s young and finding his place in the NBA. The Kings have nice depth inside and some solid role players, but due to the consistent roster overhaul, it’s been hard for them to find consistency. They’ll be a lottery team again. Denver, a Western Conference power last season is off to a slow start in the post-George Karl era. Losing crucial several roster components, like Andre Iguodala, Corey Brewer and Kosta Koufus have disrupted their rotation. They still have Ty Lawson to lead the team, but the recent injury to JaVale McGee is another blow to their depth. Denver has a significant home court advantage at Pepsi Center that could make them a fringe playoff contender, but it’s hard to see them making much of a run.
Andrew Wiggins Contenders: (Utah)

The Jazz are the NBA’s worst right now. With Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson playing for other teams the Jazz are relying on the young of Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter to provide the bulk of the scoring. The trio has potential but they’re young and overmatched against the rest of the Western Conference. Utah is solidly positioned to get a high lottery pick with the ability to add a significant piece next June.